Clear Lake may get unwelcome neighbor

Published 7:00 pm, Tuesday, August 14, 2001

While details are sketchy at this point, a draft map provided by Dana White of the Federal Surface Transportation Board in Washington, D.C. shows the proposed rail line would run from the Highway 3 railroad tracks at the southern edge of Ellington Field, passing close to the newly built Sylvan Rodriguez Park, which is to be dedicated Aug. 25, then continue to run parallel with Clear Lake City Boulevard, past Bay Pointe, Northfork, Bay Knoll and Bay Glen.

It would also cross Red Bluff Road, loop around Bayport and then cross Bay Area Boulevard and Highway 146 near Bayport.

Burlington Northern has "entered into a partnership with four Houston chemical plants to build a 13-mile rail line to provide second railroad service to their facilities," it said in a letter faxed to State Rep. John Davis Aug. 8.

Previously, the railroad's legislative counsel, Dennis A. Kearns of Austin, had discussed the plans twice by phone with Davis, through whose district the railroad would run.

Kearns said the partnership is currently preparing a petition for permission to construct the rail line.

Once the petition is filed with the Federal Surface Transportation Board, Kearns said he could "provide you and others with more detailed information about the project."

The line, he said, "will cross the southern boundary of Ellington Field and head northeast toward the Bayport Industrial Complex.

"The route will avoid residential areas and is not intended to serve the Port of Houston's Bayport container facility.

One train in each direction per day on average will operate over the line when completed, he continued.

"If permission to build is granted, construction is planned in 2003.

"The principal commodity hauled on the line will be plastic pellets, although it will handle some chemicals as well," he added.

When Davis expressed concern about the proposed line's possible connection to the Port of Houston's proposed Bayport facility, the Austin attorney made himself quite clear:

"No connection to the Port facility is planned nor envisioned.

"The Port has had no involvement in the planning, development or funding of the project.

"Nor has the Port had any input on the route selected. The line is designed to serve the partnership's plants and other industrial consumers within the Bayport Industrial Complex only," Kearns said.

No price has been given for the proposed rail line, but one sourced said it could cost as high as $5 million per mile or a total of $65 million.